Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this weight vest the best one for bone problems?
Why is it so expensive?
Will the weight vest help me lose weight?
Will the weight vest lower my blood sugar?
How much weight do I start with?
How much weight should I work up to?
How soon will I feel better about myself?
Do I have to do this forever?
How soon can I take another bone test to see if it's working?
What happens if I skip some days?
Shall I ask my doctor if it's ok to wear the vest?
What if I have neck or back issues?
How do I put on the vest if I'm stiff?
Will I be sore when I start?
Will the vest make my back ache?
What are the weights made of?
Will the weights fall out if I bend over?
Will people notice my vest?
Do you make the vests yourself?
What if I can't wear it?
Can I call you before I buy if I have questions?
What makes this weight vest the best one for bone problems?
When I designed this vest some years ago, no-one was talking about weight vests for bones. Now there are many companies jumping into the market. Most of them have their weights in the wrong places.
Next time you have a heavy grocery bag, experiment with the weight of it. Hold it to your belly and see how that feels, then hold it to your chest and see how that feels, then balance it on your shoulder and see how that feels. Walk with it in each position. Notice how having the weight on your shoulder feels heavier and more solid, affecting you down to your feet.
The companies who put weights on top of breast tissue are really inadvised. Ask any oncologist if women should have weights put on top of their breasts and they will all say not. This is dangerous for women.
Also my vest has padding on the shoulder under the weights. That helps to make the vest more comfortable.Why is it so expensive?
Women have called and asked why my vest is more expensive than the ones in Target and Walmart. There are two reasons; mine is made in the US and in small quantities, so I pay a lot more, probably four times as much, than the companies who get theirs made in China in the thousands. But their vests are mostly languishing in closets and don't get worn. Some women have been wearing my vests regularly for more than three years and they still look fine. Can you say that about most of your clothing?
The more professional weight vests like the xvest, which feels like a straitjacket, are much more expensive than mine.Will the weight vest help me lose weight?
Yes, the other weight vest sites say it will and Dr Fuhrman of "Eat to Live" recommends weight vests for his overweight patients. The vest will increase metabolism and cause your body to work harder.
Will the weight vest lower my blood sugar?
Yes, walking or bouncing on the rebounder with your weight vest will lower your blood sugar significantly and decrease your insulin resistance.
How much weight do I start with?
1 recommend starting with 4 lbs of weight - see How to use the vest.
How much weight should I work up to?
Even athletes are only recommended to go up to 10% of their body weight. I think that the ten pounds that comes with the vest is the most I will ever go up to.
How soon will I feel better about myself?
I'm pretty sure that, if you wear the vest every day and do the exercises here as best you can, then you will feel more upbeat within 21 days. Moving and breathing are the two essentials for a feeling of wellbeing and joy.
Do I have to do this forever?
Yup, I'm afraid so! Use it or lose it!
How soon can I take another bone test to see if it's working?
Bones don't change very fast. Plus my personal opinion, which is being seconded by more and more people as the years go by, is that dexa scans cannot be trusted. The same companies own the scanning machines and sell the pills. Given that the drug companies are being found out on scams, falsifications, and downright lies every week, I totally disregard dexa test results. You could do a Pyrilinks-D test to see if you are still losing bone markers in the urine. This is a good indicator of bone health.
What happens if I skip some days?
You have to start back with a little less time in the vest or a little less weight. You will probably have to reinspire yourself to get back into it. Read the site or reread the Myths book and get going again.
Shall I ask my doctor if it's ok to wear the vest?
Yes, doctors are beginning to know about the weight vest. More are recommending them all the time. Physical therapists have used them for years for many reasons.
What if I have neck or back issues?
If you have long-term back or neck problems then it is probably not a good idea to add weights to those areas. Be kind to yourself and get your back or neck treated first. Back and neck pain are not normal or something you have to live with - they are indicators that something in your life is out of balance. There are many ways to treat them including bodywork like Feldenkrais.
How do I put on the vest if I'm stiff?
The easiest way is to have a helpful partner hold it for you but if that's not possible I've sewn 2 little tabs into the top of the vest. You can put two hooks in the back of a closet door just below shoulder height. You can hang the vest on them and step into it quite easily. Then just shrug your shoulders and move forward and it will tug off the wall.
Will I be sore when I start?
You may notice a little tenderness in your thighs the first few days. If anything else hurts then you overdid it or you need to do some of the relaxation exercises on the DVD.
Will the vest make my back ache?
Actually it improved back aches for my testers and customers. They all remarked on how much more upright they felt with the vest on. We all slump forward as we age and the vest seems to act like a brace. If you have back or neck problems already then a weight vest is not advised- see question above.
What are the weights made of?
They are made of lead shot. Lead is only dangerous if you ingest it. You never even touch the lead, just the weight bags. They are called soft weights because they can move and change shape as needed, unlike the solid weights, which could hurt you if you fall on them.
Since the recent consumer alarms about lead, I am putting each of the weights into strong ziploc bags so that there is no danger whatsoever of contamination.
Will the weights fall out if I bend over?
No, there are velcro closures on each pocket so you can do cartwheels anytime.
Will people notice my vest?
People do seem to notice it. I've made several new acquaintances explaining my vest.
Do you make the vests yourself?
Not any more. The vests are made here in the US in a great factory, owned by a woman entrepreneur with good working conditions. No child or slave labor on these vests!
What if I can't wear it for any reason?
You have ten days to decide if this is for you or not. You will know within a day usually. The only rule is; It has to come back looking the same way it went out so that I can sell it again. I think that's fair. I'm not Walmart and I cannot absorb extra costs like damaged returns. This has not been a problem as I get really few returns just exchanges because of sizing. If you order a vest that is too big or too small, just call and I will send you another the right size.
Can I call you before I buy if I have questions?
Surely, I love to talk to people. Many people who have bought from my other site over the last four years just want to find out if there really is a human called Pam. The net has a lot of make-believe personnas. I'm here most of the time and I'm on California time - 805 684-4071. If I have to go out I will return your call asap. East Coasters, did you read that - California time- 3 hours behind you. Please don't call me at 5 oc in the morning.
Check out my new site with some other alternative solutions to osteoporosis and osteopenia - Osteo-Solutions.
Osteoporosis Treatment | Osteopenia Weighted Vest | Osteoporosis & Osteopenia Prevention | Bone Density Improvement | Weighted Vest | Osteopenia Treatment
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